WHY DO CHILDREN LOVE THEM?

CLASSIC CHILDREN'S POETRY  LEWIS CARROLL  T S ELIOT  EDWARD LEAR   

SOME INTERESTING LINKS   BIBLIOGRAPHY

The poems within this site are appealing to children for many reasons. They include the rhythms, rhymes and motifs. The rhythm of the poems, except that of 'Jabberwocky' are fast-paced, upbeat and exciting. 'Jabberwocky' is a more adventurous, pace, not as fast, but expelling as much energy as the others. The rhymes of all are short and quick. Children like poems to rhyme. They offer a sense of structure accessible to children. All the poems contain nonsense, the very young, or old, beasties or inanimate objects. They portray children in a stereotypical manner, such as 'Christopher Robin' in 'Sneezles'. Each poem present both the black and white of the world, even in all their absurdities. They exhibit, the very old, or very young, health and illness, naughtiness and silliness. All children require a knowledge of all of these things to develop in a rounded manner, emotionally, socially and imaginatively.   

Lear's inanimate objects of 'The Table and The Chair' appeal to children, the imagination can run wild over such fantasies as objects, which do have legs, walking the streets as though they were people. Such absurdities create wonderful building blocks for imagination skills within children, assisting in developing worthwhile and productive adults. The elderly people featured in 'Nonsense's i and ii' are shown in situations which are not only absurd, but highly improbable. However they are written in a manner well suited to children. The pieces are, short, concise and easy to remember. Younger children are even able to use them as building blocks for their own rhymes about friends and family. A wonderful introduction to poetry writing, suited to many age groups unfamiliar with poetry writing skills.

Carroll's 'You are Old Father William' features a lovely old chap, the sort of man every child could imagine as their own grandfather. He is charmingly witty, willing to poke fun at himself and yet still remains an authority figure to his son. He commands respect, even whilst explaining his motives for absurd behaviour. Children often ask far to many questions and quite often they are asked of grandparents or older family members. Children seem to have a fascination with the elderly people in their lives and the fact that those people can still do fun things that are usually reserved for the young. 'Jabberwocky' shows a young life in a more scary manner, eased into a dark world of monsters with what seems to be a foreign language. The characters are never named, thus the 'son' could be any child battling with their own monsters. The language used, 'frabjuous day' for instance, keeps the piece a light-hearted jest. The beast itself is in many ways the embodiment of all the monsters that live under the bed, in the cupboard or down the plughole.

Milne's, 'Sneezles' is a piece that shows the more mischievous side of children. The young Christopher Robin being doted and fussed over for a basic cold. Children love to be doted over, especially when sick. This shows the more fun side of being sick, absurdly calling for specialists to ensure that the 'sneezle' would not become a 'measle'. Children often find  a cold to be a pointless reason to stay in bed, and in turning it into a fun way to rile the adults in Christopher's life, Milne has managed to turn it into a wonderfully absurd illness to make such a fuss over. Children like to feel naughty without consequence and this poem gives them an outlet for that naughtiness. 'Lines and Squares' is another poem which gives children an opportunity at silliness without fear of retribution.  The absurd thought of bears hiding around corners appeals to both the young and old. It is human nature to be afraid of what we can't see or understand, and children have a far better and imaginative mind for such things. There is, in the mind of a child, every opportunity for the absurd to become a part of the everyday. Milne brings this absurdity to life in a believable manner, children are able to relate to Christopher Robin in this poem, feeling that their own monsters or bears are waiting and certain rituals and habits will keep them at bay. 

In conclusion it can be said that each of the aforementioned poets have succeeded in entering into the minds of children and playing with the nonsensical thoughts that may or may not dwell therein. Each of the pieces uses the motifs that are most appealing to children, young and old, illness and health, fear and fun. The absurdities therein can be likened to the very things children have mentioned to the adults in their lives both in the past and today. The poems are timeless in that they will appeal to children for many years to come. They will never age and thus have the ability to feed the imaginations of generations to come.